Today, we’re taking a peek at Countdown by Ben Mikaelson.

First sentence: Bitter wind from Crazy Peak tugged at the sagebrush as fourteen-year old Elliot Schroeder coarxed his big buckskin horse back toward the ranch.

and a little peek further under:

“I’m fourteen years old,” Elliot replied. “I’m the first Junior Astrounaut in space. How old are you?”

“I have also live fourteenyears.” Vincent spoke to Sambeke. “It he really up in the sky?”

Sambeke pointed up. “He is so far up that he floats like a hawk on the wind.”

Vincent kept shaking his head even as Sambeke motioned for him to speak agian. “Elliot,” Vincent blurted. “If you are in a spacecraft, they you are a spaceboy. I do not think that is possible.”

Elliot chuckled. “It’s hard to beleieve, but that’s where I am. Where exactly are you? Over.”

“What I mean is, where in Kenya are you?”

Vincent spoke more confidently. “Spaceboy Elliot, I am only one day’s walk from Tanzania.”

“In the Narok district,” Sambeke whispered.

“In the Narok district,” Vincent added. “Over.”

“Roger. What nationality are you?”

Vincent looked to Sambeke and whispered, “What does he mean, nationality?”

“He wants to know what culture you are.”

“What do you mean culture?” Vincent pleaded, feeling as if he had no brain.

“Tell him you are Maasai,” Sambeke instructed.

“Spaceboy Elliot, I am Maasia. What are you? Over.”

“I’m American, but my parents are part German and part Danish, over.”

“how can that be? Are their feet German and their eares Danish? You must look funny. I am all Maasia and nothing else.”